Changes to the benefits system
Find out how the benefits system is changing, following the Welfare Reform Act.
If your partner has died and you have a child (or children), you may be able to claim Bereavement Support Payment to help ease financial worries.
Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) is a benefit that you may be able to claim if your spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner (provided you have a child or children) died after 6 April 2017.
This benefit isn't means-tested, so you can make a claim regardless of your income or whether you're in work, but there are certain eligibility criteria.
BSP has replaced the following benefits:
If you have a child or children and were living with your partner when they died, then you can claim BSP.
On 9 February 2023 the law changed to extend BSP to cohabiting partners (provided the claimant has a child or children).
This law also applies to you if you could've claimed Widowed Parent’s Allowance, which was payable to bereaved parents whose partner died before 6 April 2017. The change doesn't apply to bereaved partners who don't have children. Contact the DWP Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 731 0464 to make a claim.
The deadline to have your claim fully backdated if your partner died before 9 February 2023 has now passed. You can still make a claim and receive some backdated payments – but these will be much less than the full amount.
There are 2 different rates of BSP:
These payments aren't taxable and aren't included when calculating your entitlement to means-tested benefits or the benefit cap.
You can claim BSP if:
Find out more about claiming benefits while living abroad on GOV.UK
Do you know what benefits you're entitled to? Our online benefits calculator can help you quickly and easily find out what you could be claiming.
You should claim Bereavement Support Payment within 3 months of the death to get the full amount. For every month later that you claim after this, you'll receive one fewer monthly payment.
There are several ways that you can claim BSP. You can:
The law changed in February 2023 to allow unmarried partners with children to get bereavement benefits. If you were not married when your partner died and you have a child or children you can make a claim for:
If you're currently receiving Widowed Parent’s Allowance you'll continue to do so at the rate of £148.40 as long as you're still receiving Child Benefit.
If you have a child or children and your partner died before 6 April 2017, and you weren't married or in a civil partnership, you should make a new claim for Widowed Parent’s Allowance. To apply, you need to download the claim form and apply by post.
We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs.
Find out how the benefits system is changing, following the Welfare Reform Act.
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